My Confusion Surrounding NFPA
Standards and Rope Rescue
Equipment
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• Excerpts taken from Jim Kovach’s ITRS
presentation with permission.
• Presentation called ”Why the fire service
should ingnore NFPA 1983”
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How it started...
• I started as a rescuer
• Was involved in equipment purchasing
• Wanted to ensure the correct
legislation/standards were followed
• Received conflicting information from others
in the field
• Looked at other rescue providers
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Just so we are clear...
• I support the use of NFPA standards
• I follow them in my training courses
• Other equipment I do use that is not NFPA
rated meets or exceeds their requirements
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First Conflicting Advice
“You should only
use NFPA rated
equipment”
(based on the 1983
standard)
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First Problem
Rope rescue gear that is not covered by
NFPA...
•
•
•
•
•
Belay devices
Prussik cord
Webbing
Stretchers and litters
Casualty harnesses
(rescue diaper)
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• Load releasing hitches
• Bridles
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So what does your
organization use for belay???
• 540 is rated as “L” or “G” to
NFPA 1983 under pulleys
• The MPD is “G”
rated under the
designation of
pulley and descent
control device
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Standards NFPA has, that
most rescue teams don’t use
• NFPA 1951 for helmets (The majority of
rescue teams use the petzl Vertex or Erin Roc)
• Portable anchors in 1983 for tripods (there is
only 1 on the market for purchase anyway..)
• Anchor straps in 1983 (most teams use
webbing or the PMI Vari Rigger, neither are
NFPA rated)
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First Conclusion
• You require gear that is not NFPA rated
• Don’t just choose gear because of the
standard but because of:
– Safety factor
– System compatibility
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Second conflict
• “NFPA states that you can not use L-rated
equipment for a 2 person load, only G-rated”
Do they????
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NFPA 1983
• Old versions for G rated equipment stated:
– 600 lb MWL 2- person
• New version states:
– The definition of “general use” is: One designation
of equipment item or manufactured systems
designed for general-use loads, light-use loads,
and escape based on design loads and
performance requirements”. End of quote. The
key phrase here is “based on design loads”.
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• Why the change?
• Why did they remove the 2-person 600 lb
statement?
• Who is 1983 for?
• Is a 2 person rescue load really 280kg?
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More confusion...
•
•
•
•
•
“G” rope = MBS 40kN
“G” pulleys = MBS 36kN
“G” Descent control device = MBS 22
“G” pick off strap = 27 kN
“G” rated auxiliary equipment have 6 different
MBS – 45kN, 40kN, 36Kn, 27kN, 22kN and 11
kN????
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As an instructor I was told..
• You can’t use 11mm rope for rescue on our
site, it is only “L” rated!
• 11mm New England KMIII rope MBS 35 kN
• The G rated friction device I use to control the
rescue load MBS = 22kN
• Why can’t I use it?
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Excerpt from Jim Kovach’s
ITRS presentation in 2005
One of the questions submitted to the NFPA was: Can light-use
life safety rope be used to support multiple persons (two or
more)? These are the answers received from the NFPA. Mr.
Frank Florence, the NFPA Staff Liaison to 1006 gave the
following opinion.
• Question: Can light-use life safety rope be used to support
multiple persons (two or more)?
• Answer: Rope use techniques are outside the scope of this
document. Rope standards are covered in NFPA 1983,
Standard on Fire Service Life Safety Rope and System
Components.
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The question submitted to Bruce Teele, the NFPA Staff Liaison
to 1983 for the 2001 edition was different but relevant:
• Question: How is the design load for life safety rope
determined?
• Answer: Users of rope need to consider the types of
operations expected to be performed, the loads the rope is
expected to bear, and set purchase specifications at or
above the requirements of NFPA 1983 to assure the safety
deemed necessary for such operations and loads will be
met by their equipment.
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Questions 1 and 2: Is it the intent of 1983 to establish a
safety factor for rope or auxiliary equipment? If so,
what is the safety factor?
• Answer: On Questions 1 and 2, The scope statements
in Section 1 of NFPA 1983 do not address “safety
factors” but do address that the standard is based on
minimum design, performance, testing, and
certification requirements. Safety factors, as such, are
not specified in NFPA 1983.
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Mr. Donald C. Cooper, past secretary and current
chairman of 1670, supplied the following opinion
during a telephone conversation:
• Question: Can light-use life safety rope be used to
support multiple persons (two or more)?
• Answer: NFPA 1670 does not describe how
specific techniques are done, nor does it prohibit
any technique. That would be up to the AHJ.
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As Jim Kovach put it.....
“And here is another question for the fire service. If
we can use a “general use” rated descender with
a MBS of 4,946 lbf or a “general use” rated rope
grab with a MBS of 2,500 lbf, then why can’t we
use an aluminum carabiner with a “light use”
rating of 6,069 lbf along with them? That’s a
rating of 1,123 pounds stronger than the “general
use” descender and 3,569 pounds stronger than
the “general use” rating of the rope grab.”
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Conclusion #2
• Chose gear certified to an
approved/recognized standard with a MBS
that fits within your safety factor
• Focus more on studying and understanding
our system safety factors and less on a
standard that was not written for us
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Third Conflict
• “The NFPA states that you must achieve a 15:1
safety factor”
or
• “The NFPA states that you must achieve a 10:1
safety factor”
• Does the NFPA recommend a safety factor?
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• Conversation from chat posts on firehall.com
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From Jim Kovach’s report
Questions concerning NFPA 1670 were answered in a telephone conversation
with the chairman of that committee.
• Question: Does 1670 require or recommend a 15:1 safety factor for rope
rescue?
• Answer: No
• Question: Does 1670 require or recommend a 10:1 safety factor for rope
rescue?
• Answer: No
• Question: Does 1670 have a required or recommended safety factor for
rope rescue?
• Answer: NFPA does not require or specify any safety factor.
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• Question: Does 1500 require a 15:1 safety factor for rope
rescue?
• Answer: NFPA 1500 requires life safety rope meet NFPA
1983.
• Question: Does 1500 require a certain safety factor for
rope rescue? If so, what is it?
• Answer: NFPA 1500 requires life safety rope meet NFPA
1983.
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• The 15:1 safety factor myth came from NFPA
1983 (old versions) where they stated for the
manufacturer’s that life safety rope is to be
designed with a SWL of 600lbf and a MBS of
9000lbf
• I have come across Dept’s who have 16mm
rope trying to achieve this!
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• It is up to your organization what your static
system safety factor will be
• Choose it because it meets your risk
assessments
• 10:1 is a standard industry practice
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Conclusion
• Before we quote standards , we must know
for sure
• Just because someone says it doesn't make it
true
• Choose equipment that fits within your SSSF
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